Government has awarded a Shs98.4 billion (approximately $24 million) contract to Japan’s ZENITAKA Corporation to construct a new bridge at Karuma along the Kampala-Gulu highway.
The project, being undertaken by the Ministry of Works and Transport, is expected to take three years to complete. Oriental Consultants Global will supervise the construction works to ensure the contractor meets the required standards and completes the project within the agreed timeframe.
According to project documents, the new Karuma Bridge will be 245 metres long and 11.5 metres wide, with three spans.
The construction will be funded by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under its Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan programme.
The new bridge is expected to provide a safer and more reliable crossing over the River Nile, replacing an ageing structure that has served Uganda for more than six decades.
The existing Karuma Bridge was built in 1963, shortly after Uganda gained independence. It is a key transport link connecting Kampala to northern Uganda and neighbouring countries, including South Sudan.
However, the bridge has deteriorated over the years, requiring repeated repairs and temporary closures. Restrictions on heavy trucks have also disrupted the movement of goods and passengers along the busy highway.
The new structure will feature a modern cable-stayed design and will be built along a straighter alignment to eliminate the sharp curves that have made the current crossing dangerous.
Unlike the existing bridge, which will remain operational throughout construction, the new structure is designed to accommodate heavier traffic and improve the safety and efficiency of transport along the Kampala-Gulu highway.
